Kampot Province Sees Higher High School Exam Pass Rate, But Top Grades Decline

In Kampot Province, southern Cambodia, the results of the high school exit examinations (Bak Doep) held on August 10, 2026, have been announced, showing an increase in the pass rate to 90.01%, surpassing the previous year. Mr. Khiev Thonvuthy, Acting Director of the Provincial Department of Education, Youth, and Sports, reported that students expressed joy exceeding expectations with the exam results, and the overall pass rate for the province has improved. This year, a total of 5,215 students took the exam in Kampot Province, with 4,694 passing. This is a 0.3 percentage point increase from the previous year's pass rate of 89.71% (5,237 candidates, 4,698 passed). Specifically, in the science stream, 1,107 out of 1,190 students passed (93.03%), and in the social science stream, 3,587 out of 4,026 students passed (89.12%). However, the number of students achieving the top 'A' grade was 62, a decrease of 26 from the 88 students who achieved it last year. There were 340 students with a 'B' grade, 957 with 'C', 1,778 with 'D', and 1,557 with 'E'. Students who passed expressed gratitude to their parents, teachers, and leaders, and offered words of encouragement to those who did not pass, urging them not to lose hope. The Kampot Provincial Education Department praised the improved exam results as a testament to the students' efforts and the guidance of educational staff. However, the decrease in top grades may also suggest potential factors such as changes in exam difficulty, grading criteria, or shifts in students' study strategies.